Aroostook Technology
Why Wood?
We tested paddles made of various materials. This is some of what we discovered:
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Aluminum: Hot in the summer, cold in the winter, stiff (inflexible) but strong. We recommend it only for a spare, utility paddle.
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Fiberglass and Carbon Graphite: Also, hot in summer and cold in the winter. Can become brittle in cold winter temperatures. Strong and stiff, but does not hold up well to rough use. Some paddles are too light weight, eliminating the benefit of "swing weight" from your stroke.
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Wood: A pleasure to hold any time of year. Absorbs your warmth in winter and reflects it back into your hands. Strong yet flexible - enhancing the power of your stroke (like a golf club). Resilient to abuse and easy to maintain and repair.
Wood: Best for Aroostook Paddles because...
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It is alive and flexes with your stroke (like the whipping action of a golf club).
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It is buoyant; which means it pops out of the water at the end of a stroke instead of you having to lift it out.
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It is strong; steam bending re-aligns the wood cells - cures, hardens, and seasons the wood - and waterproof glue locks them into place creating a strong powerful, responsive paddle for your ultimate paddling experience.
Each Aroostook paddle is hand crafted from a strategic blend of carefully selected materials, giving the paddle the needed strength while keeping it lightweight. Typical woods used in the hand crafted process include basswood, alder, ash, mahogany, walnut and sassafras. There are many advantages of the hand crafted Aroostook paddle design and many advantages of using wood.
An added benefit of a wood paddle is the "swing weight", which helps maintain momentum and provides extra power to your stroke. This works like the fly wheel in your car’s engine, and your engine can't run without it. For the kayaker, the power of one stroke is used to "swing" you into the next stroke, making each stroke easier and conserving energy.